Women’s quarter-finalists locked in at Rip Curl Pro

STEPHANIE Gilmore has concocted a pair of high-scoring waves to rescue her Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach campaign and oust long-time rival Lakey Peterson.

The reigning world champion trailed for most of their Round of 16 heat today (Monday, April 10) but stole a wave under priority and then doubled down with another nice combination.

Her 5.63 and 5.57-point efforts (11.20 total) were just enough to pip Peterson’s six and five-point waves (11).

Gilmore then allowed the American onto a wave in the final three seconds, but Peterson was unable to produce the score she needed.

Peterson also fell on an earlier wave that had the potential to deliver her a winning score.

“I saw her smash it on the inside and thought ‘Oh no, I should have taken it’,” Gilmore said of her late decision.

“But it wasn’t a great wave… things went my way; so happy to make it through.”

Gilmore has never lost before the quarter-final stage at the Victorian break and, ranked 14th, needs a big result to boost herself into the top 10 and above the mid-season cut line.

“That was a crazy, important heat,” Gilmore said, adding she has to “keep it rolling” after her win over 13th-ranked Peterson.

“I’ve got a long way to go before I can feel somewhat comfortable about the cut.”

She will surf against Tatiana Weston-Webb in the final eight, the Brazilian doing what Peterson couldn’t and finding a late wave to snatch a heat win.

Australia’s No.1-ranked Molly Picklum also progressed, along with Isabella Nichols and defending Pro champion Tyler Wright.

Sally Fitzgibbons was beaten by Hawaii’s Bettylou Sakura Johnson, while Picklum edged another Australian, Sophie McCulloch.

Matt McGillivray beat No.2 Joao Chianca in the only men’s round-of-16 heat to be contested before officials paused competition until at least 4pm on Monday.

Local wildcard Xavier Huxtable emerged as a giant killer on Sunday, shocking Australia’s world No.1 Jack Robinson.

He will face countryman Connor O’Leary in the Round of 16.

Jackson Baker and Ryan Callinan will also fly the flag, but the USA’s multiple world champion Kelly Slater’s elimination left him in grave danger of missing the mid-season cut.

On the men’s side of the draw, only one heat was held in the tough conditions, with South African Matthew McGillivray upsettiing world no. 2 Joao Chianca from Brazil to secure his quarter-final spot against Ethan Ewing or Gabriel Medina.

Surfing legends Tom Curren and Mark “Occy” Occhilupo paddled out for the second of the Heritage Heat contests between the long-term rivals.

Curren opened the heat strong, demonstrating his timeless style and earning 7.53. But, Occy’s powerful backhand attack could not be denied. He hammered one massive closeout hit to post an excellent 8.00, then backed it up with a mid-range score for a number of snaps. As time wound down, Curren was left chasing a score, and Occy claimed his second Heritage Heat victory in a row.

“I had an early surf and thought that the conditions would really suit Tom because he always made conditions like this look really good,” Occhilupo said. “And then he got a 7.60, and I knew not much has changed with Tom. I don’t think I rode the right board, although it did feel nice on that one turn. It was tricky out there, but to share a heritage heat with Tom and have all these people on the beach cheering for us, I’m stoked.”

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Occy vs. Curren Heritage Heat Results
HEAT 1: Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 13.50 DEF. Tom Curren (USA) 12.84

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Women’s Round of 16 Results
HEAT 1: Isabella Nichols (AUS) 13.67 DEF. Caitlin Simmers (USA) 6.87
HEAT 2: Caroline Marks (USA) 12.33 DEF. Macy Callaghan (AUS) 10.07
HEAT 3: Molly Picklum (AUS) 8.70 DEF. Sophie McCulloch (AUS) 7.93
HEAT 4: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 11.73 DEF. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 9.66
HEAT 5: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.06 DEF. Kobie Enright (AUS) 11.23
HEAT 6: Tyler Wright (AUS) 12.17 DEF. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 10.10
HEAT 7: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 9.36 DEF. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 9.23
HEAT 8: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 11.20 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 11.00

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Men’s Round of 16 Results
HEAT 1: Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 10.43 DEF. Joao Chianca (BRA) 9.90

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Men’s Round of 16 Matchups (Heats 2-8)
HEAT 2: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Gabriel Medina (BRA)
HEAT 3: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Jordy Smith (RSA)
HEAT 4: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Jackson Baker (AUS)
HEAT 5: Xavier Huxtable (AUS) vs. Connor O’Leary (AUS)
HEAT 6: Michael Rodrigues (BRA) vs. John John Florence (HAW)
HEAT 7: Maxime Huscenot (FRA) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS)
HEAT 8: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA)

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Women’s Quarter-Final Matchups
HEAT 1: Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Caroline Marks (USA)
HEAT 2: Molly Picklum (AUS) vs. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW)
HEAT 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS)
HEAT 4: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)

 – WITH AAP